Find Sussex County Divorce Decree Records
Sussex County divorce decree records are kept at the Family Court in Georgetown, the county seat. The Records Department at 22 The Circle handles case files from 1976 forward for southern Delaware, which includes the beach towns of Lewes, Rehoboth, and Bethany Beach, plus inland cities like Seaford and Milford. At 983 square miles, Sussex is the largest county in Delaware by area. You can visit the Records Department in person or send a mail request. Fees are flat across the state. This page lists hours, steps, and forms for a Sussex County divorce decree search.
Sussex County Overview
Sussex County Family Court Records
The Sussex County Family Court at 22 The Circle in Georgetown serves every city and town in southern Delaware. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The doors open at 8:30 a.m. The main line is (302) 855-7400. The Records Department is at (302) 855-7473, which is also the number for the Resource Center. Off-street parking is open at the courthouse. Certified copies of a Sussex County divorce decree cost $4.00 each.
A county-run portal lists the basics for residents who need a divorce decree. The image below shows that page.
The page at sussexcountyde.gov/divorce-decrees points residents to the Family Court as the right office. The county government does not issue divorce decrees.
| Office | Sussex County Family Court - Records Department |
|---|---|
| Address |
22 The Circle Georgetown, DE 19947 |
| Main Phone | (302) 855-7400 |
| Records Phone | (302) 855-7473 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Certified Copy Fee | $4.00 per copy |
How to Search Sussex County Divorce Records
Walk-in requests are the fastest way to pull a Sussex County divorce decree. Staff can find the file and certify a copy while you wait. Bring a valid photo ID. For a mail request, write a signed letter with full names of both parties, date of the divorce, and the case number if you have it. Include your name, date of birth, and a notarized signature. Send payment of $4.00 per certified copy by check or money order made out to Family Court. Mail takes 10 to 15 business days.
To pull a Sussex County divorce decree, you need:
- Full names of both parties to the marriage
- Date of the divorce or year it was granted
- Case number if known
- A valid photo ID at the counter
- Notarized signature on any mail request
The Sussex County government home page offers links to many local offices that tie into divorce work. The image below is the county government portal.
See sussexcountyde.gov for more county services, from permits to tax info.
Property Records Tied to a Sussex County Divorce
Many divorce cases split real estate. Sussex County runs a public property records portal that lets you search by owner name, street address, or parcel ID. The data shows current owner info, assessment value, tax district, lot size, sales history, and tax payment status. It is compiled from recorded deeds, plats, tax maps, and surveys. The information is provided "as is," so official recorded documents should be reviewed to verify details.
The image below shows the Sussex County property search.
Run a search at property.sussexcountyde.gov. The tool is free and open to the public.
The Sussex County Recorder of Deeds at 2 The Circle in Georgetown records deeds, mortgages, and liens. Phone is (302) 855-7785. A divorce decree that transfers real property between former spouses may be recorded here. The office does not keep the original document after recording. Originals go back to the filer. Fees vary by document type. The Landmark Web system lets anyone search the official records online.
The image below shows the Recorder of Deeds Landmark Web portal.
Search deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and UCC filings at deeds.sussexcountyde.gov/LandmarkWeb. The system has guest access and a registered account for advanced features.
Historical Records in Sussex County
Divorces granted in Sussex County before 1976 are not at the Family Court. The Delaware Public Archives in Dover holds those old files. The main line is (302) 744-5000. Staff-made copies are $0.50 per page. A certified copy from the historical set is $10.00. Research room hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Email and mail orders are on tiered pricing based on page count.
Sussex County Justice of the Peace Court locations are spread across the county to serve the larger land area. Sites include 9 Main Street in Frankford, 35252 Hudson Way in Rehoboth Beach, 23730 Shortly Road in Georgetown, 408 Stein Highway in Seaford, and 5 E Pine Street in Georgetown. JP courts do not handle divorces. They do hear protection from abuse orders, small claims, and landlord-tenant cases between former spouses.
Note: Bring a year and both party names when you call the Archives. Older files need more search time at the counter.
Delaware Laws for a Sussex County Divorce Decree
Delaware Code Title 13 Chapter 15 sets the rules for every Sussex County divorce decree. The state is a pure no-fault state. Section 1505 names the only ground: the marriage is irretrievably broken with no reasonable expectation of reconciliation. The break is shown by voluntary separation of six months, incompatibility, misconduct, or a spouse's serious mental illness. The chapter is at delcode.delaware.gov Title 13 Chapter 15.
Section 1504 sets the residency rule. At least one spouse must have been a Delaware resident for six months before the court rules on the petition. Section 1509 adds an automatic restraining order at filing. Both sides are blocked from hiding or moving assets except for routine bills. Section 1513 shapes property division under equitable distribution. Section 1512 sets alimony with a duration cap of 50% of marriage length, though marriages of 20 years or more have no cap.
Section 1507 lists the required petition items: ages and addresses of both spouses, date and place of marriage, minor children, and an allegation of irretrievable breakdown. The petition must be verified by the petitioner. Section 1514 allows the court to order a party to resume a maiden or former name through the final decree.
Legal Help in Sussex County
Free legal help is on hand for Sussex County divorce filers who cannot afford a lawyer. Delaware Volunteer Legal Services at (302) 478-8680 takes family law cases from low-income residents. The Delaware Legal Help Link connects filers to aid groups and pro bono lawyers. The Sussex County Law Library inside the Georgetown courthouse has form packets and legal reference books.
The Resource Center at 22 The Circle gives pro se filers form packets, instruction guides, and self-help computers. Staff cannot give legal advice but can show you where to find the right form. Form 442 is the Petition for Divorce or Annulment. Form 240 is the Information Sheet. Form 448 is the Answer to Petition. Parent Education Class is a must when minor children are in the case. The class runs four hours and is capped at $100 per parent by statute.
Cities in Sussex County
Cities and towns in Sussex County file at the Family Court in Georgetown. Milford straddles the Kent and Sussex line, so residents need to check which county holds their address.
Nearby Counties
Sussex County is the southern county in Delaware. Kent County sits to the north, and New Castle County follows above Kent.